A variety of FASD assessment packages available

Centre for FASD provides a variety of assessments to suit all requirements.

Full assessment for FASD.

This assessment package consists of consultant community paediatrician review, neuropsychological assessment and also an assessment of any attachment and trauma factors in the child’s history. This package is recommended for children and young people who are not under a paediatrician currently, or for families who require a second opinion in this respect. A detailed report is provided, containing all assessment results, recommendations for future support and management, both in school and at home. Our paediatricians are able to prescribe appropriate medication for ADHD symptoms and sleep problems if required.

Full assessment for FASD and Autism.

This assessment is suitable for children suspected of having FASD, but whose presentation is also suggestive of autism. Many children with FASD will present with traits of autism, but for some, their presentation is such that they may warrant a dual diagnosis in order to be best understood. This assessment consists of consultant community paediatrician assessment and neuropsychological assessment, with the addition of an Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) to provide further insight with regards to autism diagnosis. The child will also undergo a speech and language therapy assessment as part of their assessment unless they have already been seen by a speech and language therapist within the last year. A detailed report is provided, containing any diagnosis, all assessment results, and recommendations for future support and management.

Full Assessment for Autism.

Centre for FASD offers multi-disciplinary autism assessment for children and young people. This comprehensive assessment includes neurocognitive assessment to assess for any learning disability or executive functioning problems, speech and language therapy assessment, and specialist autism assessment such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). The child is seen by three clinicians; consultant community paediatrician, clinical psychologist, and speech and language therapist in order to provide a multidisciplinary expert assessment. A full report of findings is provided, including recommendations for future support needs.

Neuropsychological Assessment for FASD.

This assessment is suitable for children who have already been seen by a paediatrician with regards to the concerns around alcohol exposure historically, and who require confirmation of diagnosis through neuropsychological assessment to ascertain whether the neuro-cognitive deficits the child presents with are consistent with foetal alcohol exposure. This assessment is also suitable for children and young people who received a diagnosis in their early years but who have to date not undergone neuropsychological assessment in order to fully understand their difficulties, and what this means for their future needs. The report produced will be a detailed document of both results and recommendations for school, home and general prognosis in terms of the future. This report can feed into EHCP applications and reviews.

Neuropsychological and Attachment/Trauma Assessment.

This assessment package is particularly suitable for children in care and adopted children, whose history contains both exposure factors, such as alcohol and other substances, and developmental trauma. Both organic and experiential factors are taken into account to provide a detailed assessment of a child’s neuropsychological and therapeutic needs in school and at home, and how this is likely to affect them as they become young adults. This assessment may be funded by the Adoption Support Fund. Should there be an identified need for medical review as a result of the assessment, this will also be recommended and can be provided by the Centre if requested.

Neuropsychological Assessment for other neurodevelopmental concerns.

Our clinicians have expertise in a wide range of neurodevelopmental difficulties which may have been related to birth trauma or prematurity, developmental trauma, traumatic brain injury, or pre-existing conditions such autism and ADHD. The Centre is able to offer a neurodevelopmental assessment service for children from four years into young adulthood in order to inform EHCP applications, provide general guidance for support needed in schools, and for management strategies at home. Such an assessment can be extremely useful for children in care who are approaching care-leaving age, or for any young person for whom there are concerns about whether independent living is a realistic expectation.

All aspects of the assessment process are conducted in the same room to support the security and comfort of the child. For families traveling from afar to see us, we aim to complete the entirety of the assessment process within the same day wherever possible, with appropriate breaks incorporated.

Please contact us for information about our policies and for assessment prices.

Testimonials

"Thanks again. You were very clear and helpful. I so appreciate this work you are doing – desperately needed."

- Sue, Parent

"Right from our first tentative enquiry as a family, Dr Jackson really listened and upon completion of the assessment, our daughter's relief at having been genuinely heard was abundantly clear.
As we all read the report (which arrived in good time) our overwhelming feeling was that at last we had found someone with the experience to recognise the nature of our daughter's difficulties and the expertise to help us to move forward with hope."

- Amanda, Parent

"The most positive occurrence during our protracted FASD journey has been to find Cassie. Her knowledge and understanding of the spectrum is second to none and her gentle, caring approach towards our Grandson, CJ, ensured his co-operation throughout her in-depth assessment.

Her detailed report describes his difficulties at length and how they impact on his life, and the implications for his future, and it identifies the support he needs to receive in order to reach his potential."

The post-assessment support has also proved invaluable. So much time has been wasted by not having this information sooner, and I sincerely hope that with the development of the Centre for FASD, others will have an easier route to diagnosis and support than we have had. CJ says "Cassie is kind".